The world is filled with snarky assholes. I've been one myself on several occasions. And sarcasm. There's so much sarcasm around these days that sometimes it's hard to believe anybody is capable of being sincere anymore.

Huell Howser was not a snarky asshole. And as far as I could tell, Huell Howser didn't have a sarcastic bone in his body. How else could he get that excited about apple cider or a quilt or an old wooden floor? What else could explain how he could, without irony, beckon his faithful cameraman Louie to get a shot of some small detail the rest of us wouldn't notice with the same enthusiasm most people save for the discovery of a one hundred dollar bill on the sidewalk?

Huell Howser was our friend. The friend who makes us laugh, many times unintentionally. The friend who always seems to be more awake and in a much better mood than the rest of us. The friend who pushes us to do things we don't think we'll like which we then end up enjoying very much. The friend who always knows how to cheer us up.

Sometimes we worried about him, like the time he went to the kitty litter factory and enthusiastically asked each of the tough guys working there if they owned a cat. Sometimes we braced ourselves for the possibility that his upbeat energy might rub someone the wrong way and we'd have to watch that person be mean to him. But they never were mean to him. What kind of monster could be?

Two nights ago, I returned home from doing some stand-up comedy and I was feeling the way I often do on such nights -- high as a kite from adrenaline and reasonably-priced red wine.

I was getting ready for bed when I read that Huell Howser had passed away. What happened next surprised me.

I suddenly felt like somebody had punched me in the stomach. Tears welled-up in my eyes. My wife heard me sniffling and came to ask what was wrong. As I said out loud "Huell Howser is dead," I started to really cry. Not a "stoic guy fighting back
tears" kind of thing, but an actual "Oh, dear, that little fellow doesn't seem okay" kind of cry. It was like a floodgate opening.

I am a somewhat emotional person. But I couldn't understand why I was weeping over the passing of a man I had met only once -- a man whose funny voice I had imitated many times. This seemed pretty weird.

Huell Howser and I are linked forever, on the wall of Larchmont Dry Cleaners, where our photographs hang somewhat close together. It was there that I met him, two years ago. Huell was a friendly giant. Standing next to him was like he was my Gandalf, only with an overactive pleasure-center in his brain.

Huell Howser died last night and there's never been a night I wished more I was in California.

For me, growing up in Los Angeles in the '90s, Huell Howser was the most consistently watchable entertainer on TV. I was more of a radio geek as a teenager, but Huell I watched whenever I got the chance. A lot of us did. And if you missed something, friends would swap stories of "California's Gold" and "Visiting" and his other shows on KCET, always lapsing into impressions of his awe-struck exclamations: "This is amazing!"

His voice is so familiar to me and so closely tied to his love of the state that it might as well be the voice of California itself in my mind. So when I got into sketch comedy I felt compelled to do an impression of Huell because he was such an innocent and joyful character to mimic, and it was fun to get to play him for a few minutes on stage.

I was in awe of Huell Howser long before I first shook his hand.

Huell Howser was the antithesis of the kind of work I produced for a living. At the time, I as a producer in commercial television, working for a celebrity-obsessed network that insisted on rapid-fire edits, short snappy soundbites, and visits to the outlandish homes of the rich and famous. One evening after a grueling day, I came home, put my feet up on the couch and turned on KCET. There was this strapping guy speaking into camera in a pronounced Tennessee accent.

We are deeply saddened by the news of Huell's passing. This is a tremendous personal and professional loss to his friends and colleagues, as well as his legions of fans. Huell elevated the simple joys and undiscovered nuggets of living in our great state. He made the magnificence and power of nature seem accessible by bringing it into our living rooms. Most importantly, he reminded us to find the magic and wonderment in our lives every day. Huell was able to brilliantly capture the wonder in obscurity. From pastrami sandwiches and artwork woven from lint to the exoticism of cactus gardens and the splendor of Yosemite -- he brought us the magic, the humor and poignancy of our region. We will miss him very much.

What is your favorite Huell Howser memory? Leave a comment below and tell us.

What's a week without the continued adventures of KCET's Golden State-trotting hero, Huell Howser? It's like a California winter without fake snow, that's what. Find out where Huell's heading this week.

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "Japanese Mochi"

The Japanese new year tradition of making mochi is alive and well in Southern California. Starting with huge pots of steamed rice, Huell uncovers the labor-intensive process of making mochi, also known as "food of the gods."

Tuesday @ 7:30PM -- "Crossroads"

Huell visits the iconic Crossroads of the World on Sunset Boulevard. With its beautiful globe-topped tower, Crossroads was designed originally as an international shopping center, and was Los Angeles' first outdoor shopping mall. Now used as office space, this is one Los Angeles gem that is still alive and well. As a bonus, Huell spends the last ten minutes of the show learning about the history of the "landscaped" billboards.

What's a week without the continued adventures of KCET's Golden State-trotting hero, Huell Howser? It's like a California winter without fake snow, that's what. Find out where Huell's heading this week.

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "L.A. Remembered"

Huell looks back at Clifton's Cafeteria, Leader's Beauty Salon, Sunset Plaza, and more.

Tuesday @ 7:30PM -- "Holiday Classic: Poinsettias"

Albert Ecke immigrated from Germany to Southern California in 1902 and opened a roadside stall selling fruits and vegetables. By the 1920s his son Paul started selling some of the wild poinsettia plants that grew in the hills above their stall. From these small beginnings, it is now estimated that over 90 percent of all flowering poinsettias get their start at the Paul Ecke Ranch. Join Huell and Luis as they meet Paul, Paul Jr. & Paul III, who give them a tour of this amazing and brightly colored piece of California's Christmas Gold.

What's a week without the continued adventures of KCET's Golden State-trotting hero, Huell Howser? It's like a California winter without fake snow, that's what. Find out where Huell's heading this week.

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "Glendora Castle"

Huell has produced thousands of shows over the last 25 years and there have been many fan favorites. One of the all-time greats has to be the old videolog, "Rubel's Castle." Michael Rubel took Huell on the grand tour of his hand made home and charmed us all. Michael has since passed away and the Castle is now managed by the Glendora Historical Society with the help of Michael's nephew Scott. Huell gets an update tour of this iconic location.

What's a week without the continued adventures of KCET's Golden State-trotting hero, Huell Howser? It's like autumn without leaves, that's what. Find out where Huell's heading this week.

Monday @ 7:30PM -- "Miso"

Many of us have sat down to a Japanese meal and have been served a brothy soup known as miso. In this adventure, Huell visits Miyako Oriental Foods Inc. in Baldwin Park to find out how this this traditional Japanese staple is made.

Tuesday @ 7:30PM -- "Whistling Champ"

Huell visits with the whistling champ Carole Anne Kaufman at her salon, then stops in at her Mom's store, The Wizard of Bras It's a combo you won't want to miss.

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